Moms: Inmates Sickened After Traveling In Hot Van

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Authorities are investigating after four inmates were left with little ventilation inside a prison van with no air conditioning during a 200-mile trip from Avon Park to a prison hospital and reception facility in Lake Butler.

The mothers of two of the men told The Ledger of Lakeland the guards ignored the inmates’ pleas about the heat and didn’t provide them water during trip on July 18.

According to the women, all four men were hospitalized upon arrival.

Department of Corrections spokeswoman Jessica Cary says two guards and four inmates were initially loaded into a van but were switched to another van because the air conditioner wasn’t working. She didn’t know how long they were in the first van.

The names of the inmates and guards haven’t been released.

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